JP2008257342A - Print processing system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve one or more problems in job grouping across a plurality of servers. <P>SOLUTION: This control device in a print processing system is provided with a designation means for designating a plurality of print jobs; a generation means for acquiring the plurality of print jobs designated by the designation means from a server device, and for generating a composite print job including the plurality of print jobs; and a setting means for, when any error is generated in the case of acquiring the plurality of print jobs in the generation means, setting whether to control the performance of the processing of the composite print job including all the plurality of print jobs after the error is recovered or the performance of the processing of the composite job including the print jobs excluding the print job whose error has been generated. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a print processing technique, and more particularly to a job grouping technique that handles a plurality of jobs as one job.

  Conventionally, as a mechanism for controlling the print order of print jobs, there has been a method in which continuous printing is performed in the order as disclosed in Patent Document 1. As a mechanism for printing from the server to the device, PUSH printing is used. This is because an operation unit having a sufficiently large size is not required on the device side and can be easily realized. However, in conventional PUSH printing, printing control is performed while the device state is unknown, and therefore, the printing may end in an unintended state such as running out of paper.

On the other hand, in recent years, the operation panel of a device has been increased in size, and it has become possible to perform PULL type printing as in the case of a PC. In PULL-type printing, jobs held in one server are displayed in a list on the operation panel, selection from the user is accepted, and print control is executed. That is, control is performed so that a print job flows from the server to the device. PULL type printing also provides a mechanism for printing jobs from a plurality of servers. For example, the server for displaying jobs is switched by pressing a tab on the operation panel. In addition, there is a job grouping function that controls a plurality of print jobs as a single job and performs control so that no other job is interrupted between jobs.
JP 2001-75768 A

  However, there is a problem that the following problems occur in grouping a plurality of jobs across a plurality of servers. That is, when an error occurs in one or more jobs among the plurality of grouped jobs, the printing process cannot be executed normally. For this reason, the entire group job is regarded as an error, and the printing process is terminated, or only the processes up to the occurrence of the error are executed.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object thereof is to solve one or more problems in job grouping across a plurality of servers.

  In order to solve the above problems, the print processing system of the present invention has the following configuration. That is, a print processing system including at least one server device that stores a print job and a control device that controls execution of processing of the print job by designating the print job stored in the server device. The control device acquires a plurality of print jobs designated by the designation unit and a plurality of print jobs designated by the designation unit from the corresponding server device, and generates a composite print job including the plurality of print jobs. When an error occurs in acquisition of the plurality of print jobs in the generation unit and the generation unit, control is performed to execute processing of a composite print job including all of the plurality of print jobs after the error is recovered, Or control whether to execute processing of a composite print job including a print job excluding the print job in which the error has occurred And a setting means for setting.

  The control device further includes an operation input unit that receives an operation input from a user, and the setting by the setting unit is performed in advance by an operation input from the user via the operation input unit. Or the said control apparatus is further provided with the operation input part which receives the operation input from a user, and the setting by the said setting means is made by the operation input via the said operation input part from a user at the time of an error generation.

  The control device further includes a display unit, and the designation by the designation unit is performed by selecting and designating the print job displayed on the display unit using the operation input unit. Further, the print job displayed on the display unit is displayed together with whether or not there is an error in acquiring the print job.

  According to the present invention, one or more problems in job grouping across a plurality of servers can be solved.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. It should be noted that the constituent elements described in this embodiment are merely examples, and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention only to them.

(First embodiment)
As a first embodiment of a print processing system according to the present invention, a system including a multifunction printer (MFP) will be described below as an example.

<System configuration>
FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram of the print processing system according to the first embodiment. The print processing system includes a PC 20 that is a client device that issues a print job, an intranet cabinet 21 and an Internet cabinet 25 that are server devices that store the print job. The MFP 23 is a printing apparatus that processes a print job and executes printing, and also serves as a print job control apparatus.

  A form (print job) to be output by the MFP 23 is first registered in the intranet cabinet 21 from the PC 20. It may be stored in the box of the MFP 23 depending on the situation. In that case, the form data is stored in the device box 22. Note that data once used for printing may be stored in 22.

  Reference numeral 25 is an Internet cabinet, and 24 is a hard disk. The Internet cabinet is a storage box that is open to the Internet, and is used when, for example, storing materials used in the company and referring them at home. In addition, it is possible to use such a method that documents once printed are stored in a cabinet.

  When performing the PULL printing, the MFP 23 may designate and output a form stored in a plurality of storage areas such as the intranet cabinet 21, the device box 22, and the internet cabinet 25. Since the form in the device box 22 is the management area of the MFP 23 itself, it is not necessary to execute printing by the same mechanism as that existing in another server.

  FIG. 1 is an internal block diagram of the MFP 23.

  In FIG. 1, reference numeral 100 denotes a system bus. A reading unit 101 includes a scanner that reads a document. A printing unit 102 prints the read data and the received data. Reference numeral 103 denotes a print queue, which manages the order of each job output in 102. A box management unit 104 is a job storage area owned by the MFP itself, and corresponds to the device box 22. A box can be used for each user and each department. A CPU 105 controls the entire system.

  Reference numeral 106 denotes a display unit composed of an LCD or the like. Reference numeral 107 denotes a key operation unit, which includes not only physical keys such as a numeric keypad and one-touch key, but also soft keys realized by a touch panel integrated with the display unit 106. And it functions as an operation input part which receives the operation input from a user. Reference numeral 108 denotes a group job management unit. When group printing is instructed, this is a part that manages only the information of the job that exists in the server. Reference numeral 109 denotes a LAN communication unit, which can access the Internet and an intranet. Use this communication unit to receive jobs and job information. Reference numeral 110 denotes a FAX communication unit. Send and receive faxes using a public line.

  FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram of data stored in each apparatus when PULL printing a plurality of print jobs stored in one server.

  Reference numeral 301 denotes a network line including the Internet, an intranet, and the like. 302 denotes a client PC which gives instructions such as registration of a form. Reference numeral 303 denotes a server machine. The installation location is not limited on the Internet or on the intranet. Reference numeral 304 denotes a print job entity existing on the server machine. In the first embodiment, it is assumed that job IDs 10, 23, and 56 are stored. Reference numeral 305 denotes an MFP that performs group printing on print jobs having job IDs 10, 23, and 56. Reference numeral 306 denotes group job information, which stores the print order of a plurality of print jobs. The group job information 306 does not need to store the substance of the print job, and it is sufficient to store the logical position of the job group 304 stored in the server 303 described above.

  FIG. 4 is a conceptual diagram of data stored in each apparatus when PULL printing a plurality of print jobs stored in a plurality of servers.

  Reference numeral 414 denotes a LAN line. A server machine 402 stores jobs in 401. Reference numeral 403 denotes a server, which stores jobs in 404. Reference numeral 415 denotes an Internet line, and a server 405 exists on the Internet. In other words, reference numeral 405 constitutes an Internet cabinet, and jobs are stored in 406. Reference numeral 409 denotes an MFP, and reference numeral 408 denotes a device box which is a job storage area on the device. A job 407 exists on the box.

  FIG. 4 shows a situation when a group job (composite print job) is generated from the print jobs 410 to 413 and printed. Here, the jobs of the group jobs are the jobs with job IDs 34, 42, 77, and 80, which are stored in different storage areas as shown in the figure. For example, printing instructions are given in the order of 34, 42, 77, and 80, and control is performed so that other jobs do not interrupt during printing of each job.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a display screen for specifying grouping of a plurality of print jobs. The display and buttons described below are displayed on the display screen, and the buttons and tabs can be pressed on the touch panel.

  Reference numeral 501 denotes a tab described as “External Cabinet”, for example, a tab for displaying a print job stored in the storage unit 24 of the Internet cabinet 25. Reference numeral 502 denotes a “form holder”, which is a tab for displaying jobs in the intranet cabinet 21. Reference numeral 503 denotes a tab “Box # 1” for displaying a print job in the device box 22 owned by the MFP 23 itself. Here, the tab 501 is pressed to display the contents of the job in the Internet cabinet 25, and three print jobs 504 to 506 are displayed.

  The job 504 has a job ID of 10, a document name of “insurance form A”, a registration date in the cabinet of “April 7, 2006”, and a scheduled deletion date of “April 30, 2006”. Similarly, the job 505 and the job 506 are also illustrated. 513 to 515 are pressed when selecting each job (in this case, 504 to 506). If the button is pressed again, the selection is canceled. In this way, selection designation of a plurality of print jobs from the user is accepted. Reference numeral 507 denotes a button for selecting all displayed jobs. When this button is pressed, all displayed print jobs (here, jobs 504 to 506) are selected. Press again to deselect all jobs. Reference numeral 508 denotes a button for selecting a paper discharge method when a job is selected and printed. For example, the printer output function such as saddle stitching, 2-in-1 and double-sided printing is selected. Reference numeral 509 denotes a button for displaying a preview of the selected job. An update button 510 is updated if there is a change in the displayed contents.

  Reference numeral 511 denotes a group print button. Job grouping is performed by selecting a plurality of the above-described jobs and pressing this button. Here, jobs 504 and 506 are grouped. By grouping, jobs 504 and 506 are not interrupted by other jobs while they are being processed. Reference numeral 512 denotes a print button. Unlike group printing, this is a printing method that allows interruption by other jobs during processing of individual jobs.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a display screen for designating grouping of a plurality of print jobs across a plurality of servers. Unlike FIG. 5, the server position display is not a tab, but is displayed for each job.

  Here, four jobs with print job IDs of 34, 42, 77, and 80 are displayed. Reference numeral 601 denotes a display area indicating a stored server. The job 602 changes to the selection mode when the user presses 605. Similarly, the job 603 changes to the selection mode when the user presses 606, and the job 604 changes to the selection mode when the user presses 607. Here, a state in which three jobs are selected is shown.

  Note that the actual print job is stored in a device 602 in an external cabinet, 603 in a device called MFP 5500, and 604 in a device having an IP address of 172.24.1.2. When the user presses the 608 button in a state where a plurality of print jobs are selected, the plurality of jobs are grouped and printed.

<System operation>
FIG. 7 is a diagram exemplarily showing a state when grouped jobs are transferred to the print queue.

  Reference numeral 701 denotes a group job management unit (corresponding to the group job management unit 108) in the MFP. In the MFP 23, job information is managed in a structure as shown in 702 to 704. Individual job information includes a job ID, a group ID, and a status. In 702, the job ID is 34, the Group ID is Group 1, and the status is “data received”. Similarly, in 703, the job ID is 77, the Group ID is Group 1, and the status is “data acquisition error”. Further, in 704, the job ID is 80, the Group ID is Group 1, and the status is “data acquisition in progress”.

  On the other hand, reference numeral 705 denotes a print queue (corresponding to the print queue 103) in the MFP. Job information is also stored in the print queue 705. Reference numeral 706 denotes a job whose job ID is 1002 and received by FAX. Reference numeral 707 denotes a mail received by a job having a job ID of 1045.

  FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of a setting screen for accepting settings when performing grouping of jobs.

  Reference numeral 801 denotes a switch for setting whether to allow job grouping setting by the user. Here, the “permitted” state is set. Reference numeral 802 denotes a switch for designating whether to permit job grouping of another archive. This is a switch for designating whether to permit grouping of jobs in a plurality of different servers. For example, it is possible to apply a guard such as preventing a beginner from using job grouping in a plurality of servers.

  Reference numeral 803 denotes a switch for setting whether or not to display a confirmation (warning) dialog (FIG. 9) when the user specifies grouping of a plurality of jobs in different servers. Reference numeral 804 denotes a switch for adding a cover to each job constituting the group job. Reference numeral 805 denotes a switch for once acquiring all data in the device (MFP) and performing printing when performing group printing. When this switch is turned ON, for example, all print job data acquisition operations 702 to 704 are performed, and data is transferred to the print queue after “data received” or “data acquisition error” is determined. In the case of OFF, when the group print button is pressed, job information 702 to 704 is transferred to the print queue. Then, the print job (entity) described in the job information is acquired in the print queue.

  Reference numeral 806 denotes a setting for printing error details. When this switch is turned on, a report illustrated in FIG. 10 is output when an error occurs in a group job. Reference numeral 807 denotes a switch for designating whether or not to display that an error has occurred in a job in the displayed job list. At this time, it is possible to indicate that an error has occurred by displaying the presence or absence of an acquisition error for each print job as shown in FIG.

  Reference numeral 808 denotes a switch for accepting selection of post-processing from the user when an error occurs. When an error occurs by turning on this switch, a dialog as shown in FIG. 11 is displayed on the display unit 106 of the MFP.

  When 809 is selected, post-processing such as that registered in 810 to 812 is automatically performed, and no dialog is displayed when an error occurs. 810 is a setting for terminating an error in the same manner as in the prior art when one error occurs. 811 is a setting for skipping the error job and printing the next job when an error occurs in the middle of the group job. This is effective when you want to print out early, even though a missing page occurs. Reference numeral 812 denotes a setting for waiting for server recovery (error recovery) when an error occurs. In this mode, output is slow, but the page order is guaranteed.

  When 811 is selected, an error job is skipped, and jobs other than the error job are grouped and printed, so that it is possible to print immediately without waiting for error recovery. When 812 is selected, the start of printing is delayed because error recovery is waited for, but all the selected jobs can be grouped and printed reliably.

  By making any one of these modes selectable, an easy-to-use job grouping system according to the user's application is constructed. For example, for a job with high urgency that requires immediate printing, a job other than the error job is printed immediately by selecting 811 to skip the error job. For jobs with high importance such that the job order is accurately requested, the server recovery wait 812 is selected to print the grouped jobs correctly after waiting for a server error.

  FIG. 13 is a schematic operation flowchart when an error occurs in the print processing system according to the first embodiment. The following flow is realized by the CPU 105 executing control software (not shown).

  In step S1301, it is determined whether manual confirmation is set when an error occurs. That is, here, it is confirmed whether or not the above-described button 808 has been selected and set. If it is set to check manually, the process proceeds to step S1302, and if not, the process proceeds to step D1304.

  In step S1302, an error dialog (FIG. 11) is displayed on the display unit.

  In step S1303, selection of a process is received from the user via the error dialog displayed in step S1302.

  In step S1304, a process is selected based on a preset value (810 to 812 in FIG. 8).

  The operation at the time of error occurrence is selected by the above steps.

  FIG. 14 is a schematic operation flowchart when printing is performed in the print processing system according to the first embodiment.

  In step S1401, the MFP 23 accepts a user logon. The user inputs an ID from the panel operation unit of the MFP 23 with a key or authenticates using a magnetic ID card.

  In step S1402, the MFP 23 displays a list of operable jobs on the display unit. For example, this is realized by pressing an operation key for displaying a job. The display is as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 described above.

  In step S1403, the MFP 23 accepts job selection. For example, the user accepts pressing of keys such as 513, 514, and 515, and accepts selection of a displayed job.

  In step S1404, the MFP 23 activates the printing process. Specifically, the printing process is started with the job selected in step S1403 as a group job. Here, it is realized by pressing the 512 button.

  In step S1405, the MFP 23 executes a grouping process. Details will be described later with reference to FIG.

  In step S1406, the MFP 23 activates the printer engine and executes printing.

  The processing results of the print jobs grouped through the above steps are output in order.

  FIG. 15 is a detailed flowchart of job grouping (step S1405). The following flow is realized by the CPU 105 executing control software (not shown).

  In step S1501, a confirmation (warning) dialog is displayed on the display unit 106. That is, this is a step of displaying the dialog illustrated in FIG. 9 and notifying the user that at least one of the selected print jobs is managed by another server.

  In step S1502, job information for the plurality of jobs selected in step S1501 is created in the MFP 23. By this step, information of job information 702 to 704 is created.

  In step S1503, a group ID is set in the job information 702 to 704 created in step S1502. In step S1504, an “initialization” status is set in the status portion in the job information 702 to 704 created in step S1502.

  In step S1505, a plurality of jobs selected in step S1501 are acquired. If there is a job that has not been acquired, the process advances to step S1506. If acquisition of all jobs is complete, the process advances to step S1512.

  In step S1506, job information whose status is “initialization” is searched, and acquisition of the print job described in the job information from the corresponding server is started. In step S1507, the status of the job information is changed to “data acquisition in progress”.

  In step S1508, it is determined whether acquisition of the job corresponding to the job information searched in step S1506 is completed. If not, continue to wait until complete. After the completion is determined, the process proceeds to step S1509.

  In step S1509, it is determined whether or not the job has been normally acquired in step S1508. If it is determined to be normal, the process proceeds to step S1511. If determined to be abnormal, the process proceeds to step S1510.

  In step S1510, the status of the job information is changed to “data acquisition error”. On the other hand, in step S1511, the status of the job information is changed to “data acquired”. When step S1510 or step S1511 is completed, the process returns to step S1505, and the determination step for determining whether all jobs are completed is executed again.

  In step S1512, the grouped jobs are delivered to the print queue. That is, a group job (composite print job) is generated (generation unit) from a plurality of print jobs for which grouping is specified, and the group job (702 to 704) is delivered to the print queue 705.

  In step S1513, printing is executed. That is, print jobs are read in order from the top of the print queue, and the printing unit 102 forms an image on a sheet.

  As described above, according to the first embodiment, it is possible to solve problems in job grouping across a plurality of servers. That is, when an error occurs in one or more of a plurality of grouped jobs, it is possible to continue the processing of the print job in accordance with an instruction in advance or when an error occurs through the operation input unit by the user. Become. For this reason, it is possible to solve the problem of forcibly terminating the error as in the prior art.

  In addition, by making it possible to select an operation when an error occurs, it is possible to provide a printing function based on easy-to-use job grouping. Specifically, unnecessary work can be saved by making the grouping process an error. Also, skipping error jobs can save monitoring time and output output quickly. Furthermore, by monitoring servers with error jobs, printing can be performed immediately upon server recovery, and the print order guarantee, which is the conventional purpose of job grouping, can be performed.

2 is an internal block diagram of an MFP 23. FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram of a print processing system according to a first embodiment. FIG. 4 is a conceptual diagram of data stored in each apparatus when PULL printing a plurality of print jobs stored in one server. FIG. 5 is a conceptual diagram of data stored in each device when performing PULL printing of a plurality of print jobs stored in a plurality of servers. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a display screen for specifying grouping of a plurality of print jobs. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a display screen for designating grouping of a plurality of print jobs across a plurality of servers. FIG. 6 is a diagram exemplarily showing a state when grouped jobs are transferred to a print queue. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a setting screen that receives settings for performing job grouping. It is a figure which shows an example of the dialog of a confirmation (warning). It is a figure which shows the example of an output of an error report. It is a figure which shows an example of the dialog displayed when an error generate | occur | produces. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a display screen for specifying grouping (when a print job in which an error has occurred is included). 6 is a schematic operation flowchart when an error occurs in the print processing system according to the first embodiment. 3 is a schematic operation flowchart when printing is performed in the print processing system according to the first embodiment. It is a detailed flowchart of job grouping (step S1405).

Claims (5)

A print processing system comprising: at least one server device that stores a print job; and a control device that controls execution of processing of the print job by designating the print job stored in the server device,
The controller is
A specifying means for specifying a plurality of print jobs;
Generating means for acquiring the plurality of print jobs specified by the specifying means from a corresponding server device, and generating a composite print job including the plurality of print jobs;
When an error occurs in acquisition of the plurality of print jobs in the generation unit, control is performed to execute a composite print job including all of the plurality of print jobs after the error is recovered, or the error A setting means for setting whether to control execution of a composite print job including a print job excluding a print job in which an error occurred;
A print processing system comprising: The control device further includes an operation input unit that receives an operation input from a user,
The print processing system according to claim 1, wherein the setting by the setting unit is made in advance by an operation input from the user via the operation input unit. The control device further includes an operation input unit that receives an operation input from a user,
The print processing system according to claim 1, wherein the setting by the setting unit is performed by an operation input from the user via the operation input unit when an error occurs. The control device further includes a display unit,
4. The print processing system according to claim 2, wherein the designation by the designation unit is performed by selecting and designating the print job displayed on the display unit using the operation input unit.   The print processing system according to claim 4, wherein the print job displayed on the display unit is displayed together with whether or not there is an error in acquiring the print job.

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